I really started out enjoying Talley's family reminiscences, but then the early memories just kept on going to the point that I felt I was intruding on a family reunion I wasn't a part of, leading me to lose interest. I don't like admitting my failure to better appreciate this memoir as there were some beautiful moments.

Very different from what I expected, this is Talley's masterful portrait of who he is-- largely influenced by his Southern grandmother and the incomparable Diana Vreeland. There is also a glimpse at the human beings behind the biggest fashion houses, and there's nary a hint of elitism in sight. A very enjoyable read.

This book is heavily focused on stories about the author’s childhood in Durham, NC. As someone who works in Durham this was perhaps more interesting to me than it would be to some. This is a much less gossip-y, less salacious memoir than one might expect from someone in the fashion industry. It’s also not at all self involved. Instead it in many ways is just Talley talking about the strong women in his life, both the famous like Diana Vreeland; and the unrecognized like his grandmother who raised him.

A great descriptive read chronicling Talley's life from being raised by his grandma in Durham, North Carolina to becoming one of the most respected names in the fashion industry.

The storytelling got a little repetitive. I enjoyed aspects if the book, I thought it came alive the most the first time we hear about the grandmother and Mrs. Vreeland and when he discusses moving to New York. The rest is a rehashing of his life through the influences of these two women, which is integral to who he is, but I wanted more gritty detail of his work in fashion; more anecdotes.